Zero Point Energy doc
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| ZP OWER C ORPORATION PAGE OF 352 Z ERO P OINT E NERGY are nearly an infinite number of possible modes of propagation, that is frequencies and directions. The zero-point energy ADDED UP OVERALL POSSIBLE MODES, therefore, is QUITE ENORMOUS. As hard as it is to believe, it is greater than the energy density in the atomic nucleus. And this in all of the so-called "empty" space around us. Because the zero-point energy of the electromagnetic fields is so large, you might expect to see its effects easily, but this is not the case because its density is very uniform. Just as a vase standing in a true void is not likely to fall over spontaneously, so a vase bombarded UNIFORMLY on all sides by packets of zero-point energy would not do likewise because of the BALANCED CONDITIONS of the uniform bombardment. The only evidence of such a barrage of energy might be minute jiggling of the vase. Such a mechanism is thought to be involved in the quantum JIGGLE of zero-point motions. There are situations, however, where the uniformity of the electromagnetic zero-point energy is slightly disturbed and this leads to effects you can ACTUALLY MEASURE. One situation is when the zero-point energy perturbs slightly the spectra of lines from transitions between quantum levels in atoms. This perturbation is known as the LAMB SHIFT, named after the American physicist, Willis Lamb. This work carried out in the late s, using techniques developed for wartime radar, showed that the effect of zero-point fluctuations of the electromagnetic field was to jiggle the electrons slightly in their atomic orbits, leading to a shift infrequency of transitions of about 1000 MEGAHERTZ. Another, also named after its discoverer, is the CASIMIR EFFECT -- which predicts that two metal plates close together ATTRACT EACH OTHER. Consider plates set at a certain distance apart. In the space between the plates, only those vacuum fluctuations for which a whole number of half-waves just spans the distance can exist, just like waves formed by shaking a rope tied at both ends. Outside the plates, the fluctuations can have many more values because there is more space. The number of modes outside the plates, all of which carry energy and momentum, is greater than those inside. This imbalance PUSHES THE PLATES TOGETHER. _ _ | | | | | | | | \\ | | | | // \\ | | | | // ZPE ___________\\| | | |//__________ ZPE Push -----------//| | | |\\---------- Push |